North Carolina has long been a fertile playground for stories, novels, screenplays, and poems, so it’s no wonder that so many wonderful writers have called it, and continue to call it, home.

But because writing is often a solitary activity done at the kitchen table with a laptop, strong coffee, and a stack of reference books, it’s not often you see authors bunched together chatting about correct comma usage at a café. But that’s exactly what they should be doing according to Charles Fiore, Communications Director of the NC Writers’ Network.

“We like to say that no one writes alone; it’s so important for writers to come together to share their knowledge and ask questions of each other,” said Fiore. “And that’s what the NC Writers’ Network does for its members — we make it easier for them to connect with each other, no matter which corner of the state they call home.”

The NC Writers’ Network was approved as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit back in 1985, and grew from its humble beginnings of 500 members to approximately 1,400 members today. Much of this growth can be traced to the group’s bold decision to take its resources online in 2008, which reduced overhead, kept dues affordable, and allowed its members to stay in touch across the state and beyond. iContact is credited with helping with the effort to digitize the group’s programs via our longstanding commitment to charitable organizations. By continuing to offer the NC Writers’ Network and other nonprofits like them a discounted account upon proof of nonprofit status, we aim to support them in fulfilling their mission and increasing engagement with supporters, volunteers, and staff.

“With a small organization like ours, every dollar counts. So, we’re thankful for the gratis iContact account, which allows us to maximize funds for member writing programs. But honestly, iContact is so integral to our mission of connecting writers that we’d likely still use it even without the hefty discount,” said Fiore.

Fiore came to the NC Writers’ Network by way of his public relations work in publishing. After using iContact for over five years now, Fiore is impressed with the amount of behind-the-scenes work being done to continuously improve iContact’s features. “Every time we log in, we notice another little detail added to make the whole process of creating and sending professional-looking emails smoother, easier, and more reliable,” commented Fiore.

The NC Writers’ Network recruits new members from all the usual places where you’d assume budding writers would spend their time, such as book fairs, poetry readings, and public libraries. Business centers can also be hotspots for finding technical and public relations writers and all writers, whatever their specialty, are welcome to sign up to receive information and become members. “Because our membership varies in age from young poets, who are well-versed in using digital technology, to an older generation of writers who still prefer to connect in more traditional ways, we’ve made certain decisions to ensure that everyone feels comfortable,” said Fiore. “As an example, our website resembles a blog, to keep it easy to navigate.”

With more than three weekly emails going out to members — everything from literary calendars of local events and listings of upcoming book readings, to raising donations and public awareness of important literary causes — it’s fair to say that Fiore logs into the iContact platform frequently.

The Network supports so many different types of writers that Fiore has smartly started asking members what genres they’re interested in. In this way, he can better segment the organization’s subscriber list to personalize messages about speaker appearances and annual conference workshops, and better target the specific interests of members. “If you’re only interested in poetry, getting a bunch of session invites about nonfiction just isn’t as valuable,” said Fiore. “Changing our strategy to sending genre-specific email campaigns has improved our open rate an average of 30% to 35%.”

By personalizing the content of their email messages, Fiore and the NC Writers’ Network team have already secured some 200 writers and publishing professionals to attend their 2016 Fall Conference in Raleigh, NC, from November 4 – 6. An even larger number of writers and book fans are expected to attend this year’s conference for the chance to hear from mystery maven, and new NC Literary Hall of Fame inductee, Margaret Maron.

“Being able to communicate with members year-round using email marketing helps us be able to put on a great conference where they can receive one-on-one feedback from editors, agents and their peers,” commented Fiore. “That’s why we’re here after all, and our mission will remain the same no matter what’s next in technology.”

All qualifying NC-based nonprofits are eligible for a free account, and a 20% discount is granted to nonprofits outside of North Carolina. Please send your 501(c)(3) to billing@icontact.com to confirm your status.

Read the latest from our blog

With just days to go before the new European Union Global Data Protect Regulation (more commonly known as GDPR) comes into effect, there has never been more focus on email marketing in the news and on social media. Understandably, marketers are concerned about compliance, and if you’re not sure whether your MORE…

I’m not a BIG fan of the BIG marketing campaign. I would much prefer to work on a continuous flow of bite-size campaigns that drive a constant flow of traffic into my business than gamble on the success of one BIG, expensive marketing extravaganza. The problem with BIG campaigns is MORE…

Do you suffer from email marketing–related anxiety? It’s a common malady, normally identified by a quickening of the pulse, a dry mouth and sweaty palms prior to hitting the send button on your latest email campaign. No Cure While there is no cure for email marketing–related anxiety (and it may MORE…